Fluid-meter.



S. A. REEVE.

FLUID METER.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 10, 1910.

- Patented 111111.19, 1915.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 55% l 0' 54 S, A. REEVE.

FLUID METER.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT 10, 1910.

m r /W@ H mm D m2 1% m I fkeaaes A AZIM apparatus; Fig. 6 is a diagrai'n indicating the mechanical movement for transforming motion commensurate with piezometer pres sure differences into motion commensurate with the square-r0ots thereof; and Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing a Ill()(llil(l curved-path-producer or Whirl-producer. Reference should now be had to the dravn The fluid-main throu h which flow is measured is indicated y 1 in the various figures. Connected into this inain so that the entire fluid-flow must pass therethrmigh is means for-altering the hydro-static head. This means is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 by 2, in Fig. 4 by 2, and in Fig. 7'by 2". This means 2, 2 and 2" is preferably embodied in a single casting as indicated in the various figures. In Figs. 2 and 3 it comprises the usual converging conical tube 3 and the divergin conical tube 4 Well known in meters of the enturi type and whereby the stored energy of a flowing fluid undergoes an alteration in the relative propor- 'tion of its component parts, namely, velocity head, pressure head and potential head, and in accordance with Bernoullis theorem. Fluid-flow. through the main 1 is supposed to be from left to right, into converging tube 3 and out of the diverging tube 4. I

Instead of connecting the constricted ends of the tubes 3 and 4 through a straight cy-- lindrical tubular duct, as is usual in previous Venturi meter construction, these parts are connected by a curved-pathproducer, shown in this embodiment as a helical tubular duct 5 preferably formed in the hub 6 as an integral casting with the conical tubes and 4. It has been found that a single turn is sufiicient for this helical duet, although the actual amount of the turn or form of this helix or whirl-producer does not form a part of the broad invention. A small perforation or duct 7 is provided through tho huh 6 to tap the interior. of the helical duct 5 at the lowest point of its inner surface of the smallest radius. This duct 7 serves the. purpose of connecting the low pressure piezometer tube 8 with the interior of the helical tube 5. Although the duct 7 is somewhat exaggerated in size for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that its purpose is merely to tap out hydro-static pressure and that its opening into the helical duct'fi is such flow of fluid therethrough.

The high pressure piezomcter tube 9 is provided with two branches l0 and 11. con' trolled respectively by the valves 12 and 13 and respectively tapping into the head and foot portions of the main 1.

s is usual in Venturi meters the gain in velocity head at the throat of the meter entails a consequent loss in hydrostatic head. This loss in hydro-static head is manifested by a difference in piezometer pressures. In

swirl of fluid passing as not to interfere with the the embodiment illustrated the diifvrence in pie'lometer pressures for a iven flow is greatly increased over that e ected by the cvlindrical-throat Venturi-meter by reason of the combination of the helical throat illustrated. As is well known in physics, centrifugal force varies as the square of the linear velocity. Likewise in the common tvpe of Venturi meter the difference in hydrostatic heads or piezometer pressures valies as the square of the velocity. Now, in Figs. and 3, the low pressure piezometer luhc so connected into the helical duct 5 that the centrifugal force, generated by the therethrough operates to decreasetbe hydrostatic pressure in the tube Band, as this centrifugal force is commensurate with the square of the fluid-flow, it forms if perfect combination with the loss in hydrostatic head in a Venturi tube of known construction. There results as an advantage practically measurable differences.

ditferentiating apparatus 14, which in the 8 and 9 is accomplished by the embodiment illustrated is shown combined with the indicating and recording apparitus bomlike chamber is provided by a cast lug ill of any suitable construction. A top casting 17 is pro ided and formed to seat upon the casting l6 and to be secured there to as by bolts and lugs 18 to form a hermetical joint. along the plane It). The top casting'll is formed with a pair of cuisson-like chambers Q and 21 "which may have a. com?" mon division Wall If. asindirated. These chambers open into the chamber formed lav the bottom casting: l i. lf-o opening at the bottom into the chamber of r-as-zting 16 is an upright shell "23. to containv the indicating and recording apparatus.

The piezometer tubes 8 and 9 are connect-- ed respectivclv into thetop portions of the drums 20 and 21 as bv means of packed nipple unions 24 and 25.

Liquid displacement-members of equal mass and displacement are provided, one 2G Within chamber and another 27 within chamber 521. These displaccmcnt-memhers are show'h fixed to vertical stems 28 and 29. which are guided at their upper ends in spiders 30 and :31 respectively and are hinged at their lower ends hv 'ouble knife blade connections 32 and-"i3 to a walking lever fulcrumed, beneath and between the chambers 20 and '21 to a double knife blade pivot 35. mounted on casting 16. The knife blades 32 and are upon opposite sides of and equidistant from the knife blade 35.

(hie arm of ti walking lever 34 is provided with the l ansion 36 extending be? whcrcuponcl) "is readily determined )W What desired that W/DTIG should remain constant throughout as wide a range as ossible; Byassuming an erbi-- trcr'rlcngt. for the crank 38 it will be found that, for all values of angle a from 2 to 90", the above. ratio will remain constant within 1% variation, which is sullicieutly accurate. The movement ofthc recording pencil 47 commensurate with the angular move ment of crank so because lol its rack and our connection. All that is necessary is to -..ivide the diagram card 46;,into uniform horizontal. time units and uniform vertical. fluicl flow units selecting the scale For the flow-units to allow for the cocllicient of: the meter. The pencil is therefore an indicw 'tion of the rate of flow which it records upon the card 46. ,1

.(ll mZi/iccti01i..- I 1e complete apparatus previously described embodies a combination of the converging and diverging'tubes of the ordinary Vcnturi construction with u helical throat This combinedstructure by no means necessary to measure the flow t of i'iuids, although the combined cll'cct of centrifugal force and the Venturi tube alter-- ati on of hvdrostatic pressure both commensurate with the square of the velocity of l'luideilow hascn advantage.

In Fig. 4 the modification of all. apparatus below the upper connections oi: the piezometer tubes 8 and 9 is indicated. In this modification there are i no converging and. diverging conical tubcsfor the fluid main. This apparatus 2" comprises connecting ducts 3' and 4" for the main 1 and leading to and from the helical throat- 5' in the hub 6. The piezometejr duct 7' correspondsexactly with the previousl} described duct 7. It may be connectednto the pipe 8, in the connection of which with piezometer tube 8 is thd controlling valve 8". The piezometer tube!) is connected with the head and foot of main 1 by the previously described conwnections and valves 10, 11., 13 and 13. In

addition a piezomcter tube-tap 9 is connected into the periphery of the helical duct 5 beneath the opening of the duct 7 and shown. controlled by the valve 9" and leading to the piezomcter duct 9. An additions] controlling valve 9" is also pro ided for tube'l). The tube 8 also connected through valve 8" with duct 10, branching from tube 9. By means of this series of connections and valves various combinations may be effected for the piczomcter connections and 9; the differences in hydro-static pre..,1ro rusv be measured between the duct 1.0 and the d ct; 7'; between i e duct 11 end the d 7'; between the d :t 9 end the duct 16%; between the duct end. the duct ill;

and between the duct 9 and the duct 7. All this is accomplished merely by the proper manipulation of the valves. At duct 9' hydro-static pressure increased by oentrifugal force while at 7 it is decreased by centrifugal force. This Fig. -95, illustrating the various combinations 0 ie piezometer connections for apparatus having no converging or diverging tubes, is equally illustrative of the various combinations which nuiy be employed with the converging and diverging tubes 3 and 4, as shown in Figs. and 3. p IlIOdZ fiUCLI- iO IL of Fig. 7.-.As has reviously been explained the purpose of t e helical ducts 5 and 5 is to produce a swirl of fluid and thereby to generate centrifu al force to reduce the hydro-static head. is being the case, it is considered to be obvious that a helical tubular ductis by no means necessary to produce such a swirl. For instance it structure corresprmding to that shown in Fl 7, which would accomplish the purpose, may be employed instead of the helical duct and also has the advantage of cheapnessand simplicity of construction; small inner diamcter; and serves as u pulsation qucller of greater pulsation quelling capacity than the mere helical duct. In this construction there provided a hollow cylindrical casing 6", which is provided with end closures which may be removable as is end 6'. Fluid from the fluid main 1 enters through the inlet tubular duct or nozzle 3", which directs its discharging of fluid tangentially against the inner periphery of the drum-likc struc-' ture 6". This tangential jet sets up a. whirl of fluid about the axis of the cylindrical cusing 6 which discharges out of the tan is ntiully arranged exit duct 4". In this structure the low pressure piezometertube may be introduced in the manner indicated for the tube 8", that is, axially of the casing 6". The intrusion of this tube 8"" may be varied although it is preferred that it to mindie short of the inlet duct 3", to

.t't inlet-end of the whirl to be subject to pulsations which do not travel through to cfl'ect this. central piezomcter tube. The tube may be closed at its inner end and provided with lateral perforations. The cylindrical casing 6" in this structure may be of anv desired size and operates to a connected, to the piezometor tube 9 in a mantrue the moving force 0r a the inclusive, used. has

mes deserib'efi in eenseetimz vi sh vious figures. The tube 8 iifsewi be ,eennectecx ts she piezomeeer tube 8. It is, of course, to be unerstco aim what has been shown described merely illustmsive of the i vention and 1%;

deemed so be understeoci that the e meme]? the apparatus shsuid can L provedhyelrauhe constructien and fittings; that the term curveci-path-prmiueer generic i'ehtive'ly be she terms whiri-producer and helicaLduct; thee, in the differentiating apparatus M, she end 56 0 arm 36 Me}; be 'cermed means mevslzi eemmensurately Wish the square 05 me veieeity fluid-flew m l whle 1s 5% is by eenizi'fugal fieree er any fame resumin ifmm eke kineaie Emmi e1 flew er by e, eemsina'lzieie of such fiGEfiQS; time 110 speeifie limiteties ts epemtien the Berfizhwesiquadrant is imien'deci fer square-Feet *izrensferming apparatus; preper sheuid be emple ee 1 cases in melting reeez's' of Q nections whereby eentrifugei force in eurved mth predacer varies she clifieret of aiezemeier pressure approxima'eiy propertion to the squares 0? she veleciti of fiuidi-fiow, t0 increase the mines ef the pressure differences due m (the turi acties.

3. a fluid-meter, efiuid'main; ac 1?'1- path-pr0ducer connected inte saiii mad: piezometer tubes, ene conned-ed inie main and one intosaid curvedyafibpre ducer; means fer difierentiating thepiezcny ecer pressures and having movabie commensuratel y with changes the differences in piezemeer pressures; a ream-(Eng instrumenfig and means epereiefi by said para: for actuating said reeorsiing; ment eemmensurateiy Wiih squerwreei ts res L in a fiuici-me$er the Venmri a fluid-main; means for aiterimg the hyfiz-o steiiehced eemprising a ee'nverging' smile and a diverging tube eonnected'by a cm'vecipafik-preducer; piezemeter tubes, one my neefi're fi into said main and one said nag the gwessuresin said piezome er In a fluid-meter of ta Venburi a fluid-main; means for altering the hydrasmtiehead cemprising convesging tube and. a divezging tube eonneeted by e'cu.rve.- zh-prefiucer; piezemeter 'subes, one eenmessed iite said main 1121-21 ene into sawedpath-predueer; difierenhissing the piezometer pressures and hav ing psr; aemble eemmensuret-sly with.

changes in the diFYerences niezomei er pressures; as reeerding insbrument; e116. :1 mevemens caz'ryifig said IBQGFc having an eperaiive said mevebie ems es of said conneetiszaa -meter, means for queiiing aiier'mg the hyciz:

ni-main eemprising Whirl-- eyiinciricei cavity d. inies and exii: 1 151 9" sf seiii 4 "wqeemeler flai means mevabie eammen. with the square the velocity flow; a pitman attached thereto; by the pitman 211d edsgvted e virtually one means 1 mon 07 a flwr-reeeruer fer fluids, pr L sure s 1501; opei' tin', said kinetic ed a; 21161 indicaxm eke/3 'wlizh Z have signe 0:1, 111 the pzfesencv -uwed-path-prdducer; and. means 

